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NORFOLK (AP) The candidates and national political parties spent $7.1 million in last month's 4th District congressional race, making it one of the most expensive House contests in history, campaign-finance reports show.Republican Randy Forbes defeated Democrat Louise Lucas in the election, which cost about $52 for every vote cast. Most of the money came from Washington."This was a bitter, highly partisan campaign," said Robert D. Holsworth, director of the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. "It was almost as if they'd taken all that was bad with Washington politics and dropped it on Hampton Roads with a $7 million bomb."Mr. Forbes barely outspent Ms. Lucas, $864,000 to $844,000. However, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spent $3.5 million over 32 days while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee kicked in about $2 million."It's good to have friends in high places," said Ed Matricardi, executive director of the state Republican Party.Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, Virginia Republican, chairs the NRCC, and Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III heads the Republican National Committee.State Democratic Party spokeswoman Mary Broz attributed the Republicans' campaign finance strength to having a governor who "spends all his time raising money out of state for partisan Republicans." Mr. Gilmore's national reputation was on the line with this election, she said.The most expensive House race in history was last year in California, where Democrat Adam B. Schiff defeated Republican Jim Rogan. The tab for that race topped $10 million.